EP0324733A1 - A moisture indicator. - Google Patents

A moisture indicator.

Info

Publication number
EP0324733A1
EP0324733A1 EP87902090A EP87902090A EP0324733A1 EP 0324733 A1 EP0324733 A1 EP 0324733A1 EP 87902090 A EP87902090 A EP 87902090A EP 87902090 A EP87902090 A EP 87902090A EP 0324733 A1 EP0324733 A1 EP 0324733A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
prism
moisture
absorption part
substrate
visible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP87902090A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0324733B1 (en
Inventor
Esko Alasaarela
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mars GmbH
Original Assignee
MOISTIC Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MOISTIC Oy filed Critical MOISTIC Oy
Priority to AT87902090T priority Critical patent/ATE68265T1/en
Publication of EP0324733A1 publication Critical patent/EP0324733A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0324733B1 publication Critical patent/EP0324733B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/41Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length
    • G01N21/43Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length by measuring critical angle
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01FMEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/02Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01FMEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/22Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/284Electromagnetic waves
    • G01F23/292Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
    • G01F23/2921Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels
    • G01F23/2922Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels with light-conducting sensing elements, e.g. prisms

Definitions

  • British Patent Application 2,059,077 discloses a device similar to that described above except that in place of paper the absorption part is formed by a hydroscopic material, such as calcium hydroxide, which is non-transparent in crystalline form (when dry) but transparent when it is in the form of a solution (i.e. moist).
  • a hydroscopic material such as calcium hydroxide
  • the absorption part in all the above-mentioned devices either changes colour or becomes partly colour ⁇ less when it gets wet.
  • a disadvantage thereof is the poor contrast. Even a slight drying causes the contrast moist/dry to get obscure.
  • Finnish Patent Application 844,584 discloses a rod-like moisture indicator the operation of which is based on the change of the critical angle of the total reflection.
  • FIG. 2 shows the moisture indicating device 7 operating on the prism principle as seen in the direction to the viewing surface 2.
  • the device comprises two prisms 1 and 1 r which are attached opposite to each other as shown in Figure 3.
  • the viewing angle at which either of the prisms shows a surface 7 and 7' indicating absence of moisture, when surfaces 4 and 4' are dry, is altogether about 60°.
  • the viewing surface 2 and 2' of the prisms are not accurately parallel, so that at a viewing angle of 90 , both surfaces are made to indi ⁇ cate absence of moisture at the same time, which makes the indication more intense.
  • a body 8 presses the absorption part 5 tightly against the prism surfaces 4 and 4'.
  • the absorption part is a strip made of a porous material (such as filter paper made of a glass fibre material). One end of the strip protrudes from an absorption opening 9 of the body to make contact with a substrate the moisture of which is to be determined.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By The Use Of Chemical Reactions (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)
  • Luminescent Compositions (AREA)
  • Indole Compounds (AREA)
  • Cable Accessories (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Non-Biological Materials By The Use Of Chemical Means (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical device for measuring moisture in a substrate, in which device water is conveyed from the substrate along a porous absorption part (5) on a surface (4) of a prism so that is causes the critical angle of the total reflection to be changed thereon as a result of the change of the index of refraction. Another surface of the prism is dyed or patterned and covered in such a manner that it becomes visible only through reflection from the surface (4) when the surface is dry. When the surface (4) is moist, only the absorption part is visible through the viewing surface. The invention is advantageous in that due to the application of the principle of total reflection the change from an indication of the presence of moisture to an indication of the absence of moisture takes place sharply, not gradually.

Description

A moisture indicator
The, invention relates to an optical device for measuring moisture in a substrate of indoor plants or the like, the operation of the device being based on the change of the critical angle of total reflection occurring on the interface between a clear optical material and air by the influence of moisture.
Several rod-shaped devices have been suggested for indicating moisture in a substrate, in which devices the moisture rises to an absorption part positioned between shell parts due to the capillary phenomenon, and the moisture indication is made visible by means of a change taking place in the absorption part. U.S. Patent Specifications 3,019,638 and 4,130,012 disclose a device the operation of which is based on the change of the colour of an absorbent paper used as an absorp¬ tion part from a light blue to a dark blue when the paper gets moist. In the device disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification 3,824,844, the absorption part is white when it is dry, and it becomes nearly clear when it gets moist so that the colour behind it can be seen therethrough.
British Patent Application 2,059,077 discloses a device similar to that described above except that in place of paper the absorption part is formed by a hydroscopic material, such as calcium hydroxide, which is non-transparent in crystalline form (when dry) but transparent when it is in the form of a solution (i.e. moist). The absorption part in all the above-mentioned devices either changes colour or becomes partly colour¬ less when it gets wet. A disadvantage thereof is the poor contrast. Even a slight drying causes the contrast moist/dry to get obscure. Finnish Patent Application 844,584 discloses a rod-like moisture indicator the operation of which is based on the change of the critical angle of the total reflection. The moisture rises therein due to the capillary phenomenon either in thin slits or in a porous core material. The application also discloses the use of a prism structure connected to a multi-part capillary tube system, whereby light is reflected back from a dry prism according to the principle of a prism reflector, while no reflection occurs with a moist prism. A disadvantage of this structure is that the use of indication colours is restricted and a striped indication is unclear.
U.S. Patent Specification 2,943,530 discloses an optical device for the indication of a liquid surface, which device is based on the change of the index of refraction of light on the surface of a prism when the liquid surface falls below the indication surface of the prism. The optical indication visible on another surface of the prism changes.
In the device according to the invention, the latter principle is utilized for measuring moisture in a substrate so that a distinct improvement is obtained with respect to the disadvantages mentioned above. An advantage of the invention is that due to the applica¬ tion of the principle of total reflection-the change from an indication of the presence of moisture to an indication of the absence of moisture takes place sharply, not gradually. The invention is characterized in that the optical material effecting the moisture indication is made in the form of a prism having a first side which is left uncovered to form a viewing surface, a second side to which moisture is conveyed through a porous absorption part, and a third side which is dyed or patterned to be cleary distinguishable from the colour of the absorption part and which is covered with a covering colour, the angles of the prism depending on the index of refraction of the material in such a way that when the second side is moist, the absorption part itself is visible through the viewing surface of the prism, while an image of the dyed or patterned surface of the third side is visible through the viewing surface as a result of a total reflection occurring on the second side when said second side is dry.
The device operates in such a way that water is conveyed from the measuring point along a porous material to make contact with one surface of teh prism so that the critical angle of the total refraction of light on this surface is changed and the indication visible on another surface of the prism is likewise changed. The operation is based on the fact that the index of refraction on the interface between the opti¬ cal material and air differs from the index of refrac¬ tion on the interface between the optical material and water. Said optical material can be any suitable trans¬ parent clear material, for instance glass or acryl. In the following the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein
Figure 1 illustrates the operating principle of a prism used in the invention,
Figure 2 illustrates the structure of the device according to the invention as seen from the viewing side,
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the area of the indication surface along line III-III in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the area of the absorption part along line IV-IV in Figure 2.
A first side of a prism 1, i.e. a viewing surface 2, is entirely visible; a second side, i.e. a moisture indicating surface 4 is covered by a porous absorption part 5; and a third surface, i.e. a surface 3 which is visible when dry, is covered with a covering colour 6. Light coming to the prism through the viewing surface undergoes a total reflection on the surface 4 when the absorption part 5 is dry, so that an image of the sur- face 3 indicating absence of moisture can be seen by the observer through the viewing surface as a reflec¬ tion from the surface 4. When the absorption part 5 is moist, no total reflection occurs on the surface 4 so that the absorption part itself is seen by the observer through the viewing surface. The angles of the prism 1 depend on the index of refraction of the prism material. For acryl, for instance, the index of refraction of which is 1.49, a suitable sharp angle is 6 and the other angles 132° a^d 42°. With these angle values, the total reflection occuring between the prism material and air on the viewing surface 2 causes that the surface 3 indica¬ ting absence of moisture can be seen through the viewing surface at any viewing angle only through reflection from the surface 4, when the surface 4 is dry. The limits of the viewing angle at which the surface 3 is visible through reflection from the surface 4 are an angle per¬ pendicular to the surface on the left and an angle devi¬ ating about 30 from the right angle on the right. With wider angles, a total reflection occurs on the surface 4 also when the surface is moist. The angles can be dimen¬ sioned for other materials on the basis of the index of refraction. By varying the angles of the prism, it is also possible to affact the wideness of the usable viewing angle. Figure 2 shows the moisture indicating device 7 operating on the prism principle as seen in the direction to the viewing surface 2. The device comprises two prisms 1 and 1 r which are attached opposite to each other as shown in Figure 3. The viewing angle at which either of the prisms shows a surface 7 and 7' indicating absence of moisture, when surfaces 4 and 4' are dry, is altogether about 60°. The viewing surface 2 and 2' of the prisms are not accurately parallel, so that at a viewing angle of 90 , both surfaces are made to indi¬ cate absence of moisture at the same time, which makes the indication more intense. A body 8 presses the absorption part 5 tightly against the prism surfaces 4 and 4'. The absorption part is a strip made of a porous material (such as filter paper made of a glass fibre material). One end of the strip protrudes from an absorption opening 9 of the body to make contact with a substrate the moisture of which is to be determined.
The moisture is evaporated into the air at the other end of the body through a small evaporation opening 10 positioned behind the rod.
Covering colour layers 6 and 6 ' cover those sur- faces of the prism which have a colour (e.g. red) clearly distinct from the colour of the absorption part. The point 11 of the rod is so shaped that it cuts the substrate and presses the earth efficiently against the absorption part. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the rod in the area of the absorption opening. A body part 8a lifts up an absorption part 5 and extensions 1a and 1a' of the prism part press the absorption part into contact with the body part. The absorption part is thus main- tained in place and makes good contact with the earth. The moisture indicator according to the inven¬ tion may also form an integral part of a flower pot so that the absorption part makes contact with the earth over the whole length thereof or the earth itself may function as an absorption part.

Claims

Claims :
1. An optical device for measuring moisture in a substrate of indoor plants or the like, the operation of the device being based on the change of the critical angle of total reflection accurring on the interface between a clear optical material and air by the influ¬ ence of moisture, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the optical material effecting the moisture indication is made in the form of a prism (1,1') having a first side which is left uncovered to form a viewing surface (2,2'), a second side (4,4') to which moisture is conveyed through a porous absorption part (5), and a third side (3,3') which is dyed or patterned to be clearly distinguishable from the colour of the absorp¬ tion part and which is covered with a covering colour (6,6'), the angles of the prism depending on the index of refraction of the material in such a way that when the second side (4,4') is moist, the absorption part itself is visible through the viewing surface (2,2') of the prism, while an image of the dyed or patterned sur¬ face of the third side (3,3') is visible through the viewing surface (2,2') as a result of a total' reflection occurring on the second side (4,4') when said second side is dry.
2. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that it is rod-shaped and comrises a sharp-pointed body (8) and a prism part formed by two prisms '( 1 , 1 ' ) attached to each other, the porous strip-shaped absorption part being positioned between said body and prism part in such a manner that i com¬ municates with the substrate through an absorption opening (9) and with the atmosphere through an evapora¬ tion opening (10).
3. A device according to claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the prism part is made of acryl, the index of refraction of which is 1.49, and the angles of the prims are 6 , 132 and 42 , and that the angle between the viewing surfaces of the prims is 9 .
4. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that it forms an integral part of a flower pot at the side thereof, and that the absorp- tion part makes contact with the substrate over its entire length or only part of its length.
EP87902090A 1986-09-30 1987-03-13 A moisture indicator Expired - Lifetime EP0324733B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87902090T ATE68265T1 (en) 1986-09-30 1987-03-13 HUMIDITY INDICATOR.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI863947A FI78564C (en) 1986-09-30 1986-09-30 FUKTIGHETSINDIKATOR.
FI863947 1986-09-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0324733A1 true EP0324733A1 (en) 1989-07-26
EP0324733B1 EP0324733B1 (en) 1991-10-09

Family

ID=8523240

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87902090A Expired - Lifetime EP0324733B1 (en) 1986-09-30 1987-03-13 A moisture indicator

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US4846572A (en)
EP (1) EP0324733B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0820362B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE68265T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3773681D1 (en)
DK (1) DK168462B1 (en)
FI (1) FI78564C (en)
NO (1) NO176374C (en)
SU (1) SU1718737A3 (en)
WO (1) WO1988002485A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6766762B2 (en) * 2001-10-05 2004-07-27 Purdue Research Foundation Indicator device for soil
US20030080304A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-01 Flow-Rite Controls, Inc. Apparatus and method for monitoring soil moisture conditions and for maintaining soil moisture conditions
FR2840068A1 (en) * 2002-05-27 2003-11-28 Vincent Letocart Water or moisture detector for closed chamber wall comprises sensory element of a material that loses its mechanical resistance in presence of moisture
US20110107825A1 (en) * 2009-11-12 2011-05-12 Jenkinson Byron J Anaerobic soil indicator device

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2943530A (en) * 1956-10-26 1960-07-05 Elastic Stop Nut Corp Optical indicator for liquid level
US3026718A (en) * 1959-12-15 1962-03-27 Matson Randolph Soil moisture indicating gage
US3045477A (en) * 1961-03-02 1962-07-24 Matson Randolph Soil moisture indicating gage
US3345870A (en) * 1963-11-26 1967-10-10 Yoshinaga Prince Kabushiki Kai Fuel level indicator
US3364733A (en) * 1964-01-16 1968-01-23 Comstock & Wescott Liquid content indicating container
GB1158573A (en) * 1966-02-16 1969-07-16 Lambert S Lancaster Ltd Improvements in or relating to Moisture Determining Devices
US3824844A (en) * 1973-05-11 1974-07-23 Water Rite Inc Soil moisture monitor
FR2301013A1 (en) * 1975-02-12 1976-09-10 Anquetin Jacques Plant pot soil humidity warning device - has sponge escutcheon through pot wall to indicating paper in escutcheon and covered by element
DE2726082A1 (en) * 1977-06-10 1978-12-21 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete OPTICAL LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR, ESPECIALLY FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, SUCH AS DISHWASHERS AND WASHING MACHINES, WITH A LIGHT CONDUCTING BAR
US4130012A (en) * 1977-11-25 1978-12-19 Design Loft Creations, Inc. Soil moisture indicator
GB2152669A (en) * 1984-01-10 1985-08-07 Thorn Emi Domestic Appliances A liquid level indicator

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8802485A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK290888A (en) 1988-05-27
DK168462B1 (en) 1994-03-28
DE3773681D1 (en) 1991-11-14
FI863947A0 (en) 1986-09-30
FI863947A (en) 1988-03-31
ATE68265T1 (en) 1991-10-15
DK290888D0 (en) 1988-05-27
JPH0820362B2 (en) 1996-03-04
SU1718737A3 (en) 1992-03-07
NO882190D0 (en) 1988-05-19
NO176374C (en) 1995-03-22
WO1988002485A1 (en) 1988-04-07
JPS6390742A (en) 1988-04-21
US4846572A (en) 1989-07-11
NO176374B (en) 1994-12-12
FI78564B (en) 1989-04-28
EP0324733B1 (en) 1991-10-09
FI78564C (en) 1989-08-10
NO882190L (en) 1988-05-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE68905757D1 (en) INTEGRATED OPTICAL DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE REFRACTING INDEX OF A LIQUID.
EP0324733B1 (en) A moisture indicator
US4382380A (en) Plant watering indicator
CA1319274C (en) Apparatus for measuring the partial pressure of gases or vapors
DE69017283D1 (en) Electroforetic capillary with built-in optical device.
GB2015161A (en) Illuminated Indicator Gauge
US3817204A (en) Device for indicating critical temperatures
EP0193037A3 (en) Chemically sensitive construction element
JPS54100751A (en) Detection of connection of optical fibers
US4982598A (en) Apparatus for measuring the partial pressure of gases or vapors
GB2059077A (en) Plant watering indicator device
JPS583099Y2 (en) cathode ray tube equipment
JPH0725627Y2 (en) Light guide plate for lighting
JPS54121787A (en) Photo detector
JPS63282636A (en) Gas detector
JPH03220422A (en) Level indicator
JPS56106127A (en) Thermometer
JPS63165561U (en)
JPH02131648U (en)
JPS5839551U (en) refractive index measuring device
JPS5465081A (en) Optical temperature detector
JPS552983A (en) Position measuring optical system
JPS62160351U (en)
JPS57171250A (en) Detection of defect
JPS57116205A (en) Measuring device for dimension

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19890329

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: EFFEM GMBH

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19901217

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: FIAMMENGHI - DOMENIGHETTI

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 68265

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19911015

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3773681

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19911114

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 87902090.7

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20040304

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20040310

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20040311

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 20040316

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20040317

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20040518

Year of fee payment: 18

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050313

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050313

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050314

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050331

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050331

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050331

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *EFFEM G.M.B.H.

Effective date: 20050331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20051001

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20051001

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20060308

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20060308

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20060309

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20070312

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *EFFEM G.M.B.H.

Effective date: 20050331